this actually makes complete sense to me--unless {and this is entirely possible}i've completely misunderstood it

there are just some people who are so disconnected from their collective bodies that'they require input that they're leaning against a hot iron. you know the type. there's all sort of ways to make your attention live at your extremities, or your tactile intelligencerevive itself as the informative conduit it should be--and indeed probably always wasuntil we started putting a fence around nature, and learned the true art of sedentaryflaccid fu, and hid behind the dead bolt as a response to threats.

i would think it's like being an intuitive dancer, and observant parent watching a child'sfirst steps--learning the deadly art of anticipating movement. also perhaps not unlike theintimate relationship one gets with 'sparring partners' over years of games [training]. those guys in tournaments that hop in and out over and over, like a dance. hop in and out with them, then suddenly turn the tables and hop in twice...game over.

the sensibilities of minute movement and intelligence of body mechanics. sounds as importantas learning how to put someone's head off line, and all the rest of it. much easier than increasingspeed, increasing understanding so one appears faster, or [Bruce-Lee-esque] early.

Funny. I was just watching your youtube clip of the sensitivity drill (the women's SD series) last night. I have one private student who I feel may benefit from it. I think we (well, me anyway) often take it for granted that everybody has that 'savvy' and knows how to move.

Russ, great points. And nice profile pic... look at those tattoos and biceps. You sexy beast

Sensitivity drills are cool, CMA or FMA. Great, but sadly untrue, story of Floro Villabrille, a very well known Filipino sword player, learning his art from a blind princess. No blind princess, but point being that all you need is a point of contact ... if you are good.

Somewhat related - Chiron wrote an interesting little post the other day about being in contact with your opponent:

From Chiron

"Is That a Problem?"Let go of my arm. It's messing up your distance.""But that's the weapon arm. I need to control it."I shake my head. "Watch me." I pass/parry/enter "What can you reach with your knife?" I know the answer- if my hand weren't under his arm he might be able to get my thigh, but it is. If he was extremely flexible he just might be able to nick my ear or ruffle my hair. Maybe. Just because it is scary, doesn't mean it can hurt you. What I say is, "If you can't reach me with it, I don't need to waste resources on it. It is controlled, but by position, not grip."

There's a lot of that kind of stuff out there- solutions to problems that aren't problems. We talked about it later. Someone grabs your wrists, what do you do? I just say, "I know you're desperate but I am not going out with you." I know where his hands are. Where his feet are. What he can do and what he can't. For most things he needs to let go, for the one he doesn't, the head butt, I'll feel his intention. There is no problem here, unless you psych yourself into one.

Same with grabbing the shirt. It's an aggressive, scary move if you buy into the hype. Put it down on paper and suddenly it's a gift. "Hi, my name's Ray and I'll be your attacker today. I've decided to open by tying up both my hands in a way that can't really hurt you, leaving your hands free and my knees, throat, ears and lots of other good stuff in easy reach."

Lots of the groundfighting positions on the bottom are good places to rest. There are some holds- kesa gatame and kami shiho gatame to name two, where the person can't hurt you without changing the hold. The only danger in either is to struggle yourself to exhaustion. There is no problem here, not until the bad guy's friends show up.

Recognizing a problem is a critical strategic skill. Recognizing when something is not a problem and you can save your resources is a critical tactical skill."

_________________"It will be difficult at first, but then everything is difficult at first". Miyamoto Musashi

"Is That a Problem?"Let go of my arm. It's messing up your distance.""But that's the weapon arm. I need to control it."I shake my head. "Watch me." I pass/parry/enter "What can you reach with your knife?" I know the answer- if my hand weren't under his arm he might be able to get my thigh, but it is. If he was extremely flexible he just might be able to nick my ear or ruffle my hair. Maybe. Just because it is scary, doesn't mean it can hurt you. What I say is, "If you can't reach me with it, I don't need to waste resources on it. It is controlled, but by position, not grip."

There's a lot of that kind of stuff out there- solutions to problems that aren't problems. We talked about it later. Someone grabs your wrists, what do you do? I just say, "I know you're desperate but I am not going out with you." I know where his hands are. Where his feet are. What he can do and what he can't. For most things he needs to let go, for the one he doesn't, the head butt, I'll feel his intention. There is no problem here, unless you psych yourself into one.

Same with grabbing the shirt. It's an aggressive, scary move if you buy into the hype. Put it down on paper and suddenly it's a gift. "Hi, my name's Ray and I'll be your attacker today. I've decided to open by tying up both my hands in a way that can't really hurt you, leaving your hands free and my knees, throat, ears and lots of other good stuff in easy reach."

Lots of the groundfighting positions on the bottom are good places to rest. There are some holds- kesa gatame and kami shiho gatame to name two, where the person can't hurt you without changing the hold. The only danger in either is to struggle yourself to exhaustion. There is no problem here, not until the bad guy's friends show up.

Recognizing a problem is a critical strategic skill. Recognizing when something is not a problem and you can save your resources is a critical tactical skill."

Maija...... Thank you so much for sharing that.

That is absolutely uber cool and profound, I will be ponder on this for a bit.